Allergy Friendly Birthday Party

I love a fun birthday party, but since being diagnosed with Celiac Disease, I have come to accept that 9 times out of 10 I am not going to be able to eat anything at the party. I’m an adult and that’s ok, I’ll make myself a cake when I get home and I won’t have to share!

For children this is so much harder. As a mom and teacher, I always want everyone to feel included. It’s always nice when friends and family are willing to make accommodations for an allergy child, but I find that there are so many options these days, rather than trying to figure out who can have what, I just make it all Top 8 Free. It just makes life so much easier.

Planning Tips

Consider skipping the full meal.

A lot of children’s parties have pizza or hot dogs, providing a Top 8 free alternative can be pricey and will most likely require you to make it yourself, so consider scheduling the party at a time that it won’t include a meal. If you have to include a meal consider things such as BBQ Chicken (check BBQ sauce ingredients), Arroz con Pollo (it’s our go-to), or a make your own pizza station using my calzone dough and dairy free cheese.

Have plenty of snacks on hand.

Fresh fruit is always a hit. Chips (read the label) and salsa, veggies with homemade hummus (store brand may contain soy, so read the label), and popcorn are good options. Fruit pouches are always a hit as well.

It’s not a party till there’s cake!

Fortunately, thanks to all of the amazing allergen-free bloggers out there, there is no shortage of allergy friendly cake recipes. You may even want to try something a little different, like taking these Monster Cookie Bars and making them into a cookie cake!

Use non-candy favors and prizes

There’s no need to send kids home with piles of candy, instead invest in a few non-candy treats such as bracelets, pencils, stickers, or even homemade playdough (traditional contains gluten). Parent’s will love that their kids aren’t wired, and the kids will love a few new little toys!

Don’t Forget!

The most important thing at a birthday party is to have fun! Enjoy the company and have a great time with your friends. By providing allergy safe options you can ensure that all your guests have a fun and safe time at the party.

I just had to click this even though I am an adult with no children cause I am allergic to practically everything, so I can never all the goodies that everyone else gets too. whomp whomp. It’s amazing all of the products out there now, right? Sometimes I feel like a normal person when going to the grocery store 😉

I love throwing Top 8 Free birthday parties too! My youngest has life threatening food allergies and we learned how important it was to make sure everyone is included. The 1 time I was thrown for a loop was when a little friend had an allergy to cocoa. After that, I always include both chocolate and vanilla everything.

Amanda

Several years ago I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease, which requires a strict gluten-free diet, it's hard, but you CAN live gluten-free and not feel like your missing out! Follow along for all my recipes, tips and tricks for living gluten-free.